The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

Walter Garber is a New York City subway dispatcher whose ordinary day is
thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. Ryder, the criminal mastermind behind the hijacking and leader of a highly-armed gang of
four, threatens to execute the train's passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour.
As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway
system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there's one riddle Garber can't
solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?

For more about The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 and the The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 Blu-ray release, see the The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 Blu-ray Review published by Martin Liebman on November 1, 2009 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.0 out of 5.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 Blu-ray Review

All aboard for the latest Thriller from Tony Scott.

It seems like it's a stigma at best or a mark of certain death at worst to have the word "remake"
attached to any picture, especially when trudging into "classic" territory; Psycho's
remake is
the poster child of all that can go wrong, and while 1974's The Taking of Pelham One Two
Three isn't exactly Hitchcock, it's still something of a fan favorite and a fine example of
memorable 1970s-style filmmaking. Replacing Walter Matthau with Denzel Washington (Glory) and Robert
Shaw with John Travolta (Broken Arrow),
Director Tony Scott's (Revenge) 2009 take
on
the story is surprisingly engaging despite its particularly predictable nature. Still, for as
unremarkable as The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 may be in the grand scheme of things,
Scott,
Washington, and Travolta manage to make the unremarkable rather remarkable. Though
the
ending comes as no surprise, the talented trio deliver a film packed with intense tit-for-tat
dialogue,
remarkably real performances, and the director somehow squeezes every last ounce of life out a
film
that banks heavily on two rather dull locations and minimal action but maximum tension.

How often are heroes seen with a napkin bib in the movies?

Mild-mannered transit authority dispatcher Walter Garber (Washington) is about to have his
otherwise monotonous workday routine turned upside down when several heavily armed men --
led by a man that eventually comes to be known as "Ryder" (Travolta) -- hijack a subway car
from
Pelham station. Garber finds himself the man communicating with Ryder, and it is to Garber that
Ryder makes his demands known: $10,000,000 in cash in 60 minutes, delivered to his
location. For every minute thereafter that the money is not in his possession, he will kill one
hostage. When Garber is taken off the microphone, replaced by hostage negotiator Camonetti
(John
Turturro (Secret Window),
Ryder violently demands Garber return. Matters are further complicated when Garber's shady
past is exposed, a revelation that allows Ryder to seize the initiative in the tit-for-tat game in
which the two find themselves engaged as the clock quickly counts down towards zero.

Director Tony Scott brings some much-needed visual verve and vigor to a picture that's otherwise
necessarily stagnant throughout; the film finds the vast majority of its action in either a stopped
subway car or in an office setting, neither of which allow for much in the way of visual
stimulation, despite the latter's clean lines, bright lights, and wall of computer monitors that
tracks the subway
cars. The Tony Scott style is in full effect here, the film featuring a frenetic look that's
punctuated by quick edits, fast zooms, a mixture of slow- and fast-motion
photography, and plenty of handheld work, and that's just the film's title sequence. It does slow
down just a bit once the film gets going, but it keeps things fluid when there would otherwise be
no fluidity to the dialogue-heavy action. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, as a requirement
of the story, necessitates a tight script to maintain tension, and even though the film's
somewhat clichéd "bad guy demands money and if he doesn't get it he'll start offing hostages"
routine is the centerpiece of the story, Brian Helgeland's (A Knight's Tale) script
features exceptional dialogue, particularly those conversations between Ryder and Garber as they
feel one another out and fish for weaknesses while simultaneously -- but slowly -- developing
their back stories. All that's left are two actors to pull it off, and Travolta and Washington share
brilliant chemistry as two men on opposite sides of both the microphone and the law.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 delivers dialogue-driven drama at its finest. The film works
because
of Washington's and Travolta's ability to take rather standard stuff and make it personal,
important,
dangerous, serious, and real. Tony Scott's frenetic direction adds urgency to the tone, but it's the
chemistry between the leads that makes Pelham work so well. The Taking of Pelham
1 2 3 features another stalwart performance from Denzel Washington, but his character is a
far cry from the sorts he portrayed in his previous collaborations with Tony Scott, namely Déjà Vu and Man on Fire. Here,
Washington sports a hint of gray hair, wears a sweater and glasses, and is thereby painted as
more of an everyman rather than as a force to be reckoned with. As such, it's much easier for
the audience to connect with the hero on a personal level as he learns on the fly how to deal with
a crisis situation. The one trait he shares in common with his character from Man on
Fire is that Garber is a flawed -- albeit modestly -- character himself, though it's a trait that
seems to work to his benefit in his relationship with Ryder. On the other side of the coin, John
Travolta plays his part with a delicious and lively deviousness and a hint of insanity lurking behind
the professionally-executed hijacking, but at the same time emitting an aura of danger and
deadly seriousness that ups the ante considerably. It seems unreal that there was a
pre-Pulp Fiction Travolta that seemed long since forgotten, but The Taking of Pelham
1 2 3 features the actor at the top of his game and showing that he still has some gas in the
tank. The film also features strong performances from James Gandolfini (All the King's Men)
and John Turturro.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 arrives on Blu-ray with a strong 1080p. 2.39:1-framed
transfer. This one delivers everything discerning viewers have come to expect of a Sony new
release. The film's grain structure is left intact throughout, providing to the image a pleasant
film-like quality; likewise, other signs of artificial image manipulation are not present. The
transfer reveals extraordinary levels of fine detail throughout; though the bleaker subway car
interior and tunnel exterior shots don't have much to offer from a visual perspective, the rest of
the image shines. Close-ups of faces reveal -- and probably much to the chagrin of the actors --
every pore, imperfection, and stubble of facial hair. Several birds-eye view shots of New York City
look positively amazing; there's not a soft edge or dulled detail to be seen, and the image retains
impeccable clarity in every shot and at any distance. The film features a broad range of color
presentation; the interior of the subway car takes on a somewhat murky, green tint, with not
much opportunity for sparkling hues, but the scenes above in New York City and inside the
control center feature a nice, clean, and clear palette that looks wonderful, from bright yellow
taxis to the Mayor's red tie. Black levels are beautifully rendered; the subway
tunnel scenes deliver pitch-perfect dark shadows that retain an inky tone with nary a hint of
gray. Likewise, flesh tones appear accurately rendered. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
looks excellent on Blu-ray in every regard.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 pulls onto Blu-ray with an impressive DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless
soundtrack. Like the video, this one delivers a positively booming yet clear and entertaining
soundtrack that's the norm from Sony action-oriented titles. Though The Taking of Pelham 1 2
3 is primarily a dialogue-heavy film, there are still plenty -- just somewhat scattered --
opportunities for the soundtrack to shine. Listeners will not only hear but also feel the subway car
speeding down the tracks in one early scene; even later in the picture as the cars are separated, the
more slowly meandering movements along the track deliver a full and lifelike sonic experience. The
rear channels are fully utilized throughout; not only do the subway cars rattle through the
soundstage, but police sirens blare in several scenes and general ambience -- both in external city
shots and inside the control room -- place the listener squarely into the experience. Several scenes
featuring gunfire erupt nicely, particularly those shots that reverberate through the subway
tunnels. Music enjoys a crystal-clear and distortion-free presentation with a robust low-end
support,
and dialogue reproduction is consistently faultless. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 sounds just
as good as it looks on Blu-ray.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 boards Blu-ray with a nice selection of extra materials, the
package headlined by a pair of commentary tracks. The first features Director Tony Scott
discussing the film's ability to stand alone from the original, Scott's initial involvement with the
project, casting the parts and the strengths the primaries brought to the film, the rigors and
challenges of the shoot, and much more. Track two features Writer Brian Helgeland and Producer
Todd Black. This is a fairly cut-and-dry track that covers the expected angles with the appropriate
level of enthusiasm and insight. They discuss the ensemble cast, getting the project off the
ground and the challenge of delivering a quality picture, set design, creating the thick tension
that permeates the
film, and much more. Next is No Time to Lose: The Making of 'Pelham 1 2 3' (1080p,
30:25), a quality piece that looks at a broad spectrum of topics, including pitching the film to
Sony and Denzel Washington, updating the look and feel of the film, the challenges of the shoot,
the work of the actors and the research that went into crafting the most realistic characters
possible, and plenty more. The Third Rail: New York Underground (1080p, 16:15) takes
viewers behind-the-scenes of the public transit system in New York city and shooting in the city's
real subway system. From the Top Down: Stylizing Character with Danny Moumdjian, the
Lab Salon (480p, 5:17) looks at the importance of the right haircut in Hollywood.

Marketing 'Pelham' (1080p, 7:04) contains various trailers for the film. Also included
Sony's CineChat application; BD-Live (Blu-ray profile 2.0) functionality; Sony's
"MovieIQ" that offers live, up-to-date
details about every scene, including cast and crew filmographies and biographies, soundtrack
listings, and more; and 1080p trailers for Angels & Demons,
District 9, Moon, Boondock
Saints 2: All Saints Day, Blood: The Last
Vampire, Black Dynamite, The Da Vinci Code,
Casino Royale, and
Year One. Disc two
of this set contains a digital copy of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Replayed on a second
generation iPod Touch, listeners will be greeted with a strong, hefty, clear soundtrack that
spreads information nicely across the two-channel presentation. The video quality is solid;
colorful, bright, crisp, and nicely detailed, the only problem is persistent blocking, but for
on-the-go viewing, the presentation -- both video and audio -- is more than adequate.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is one of those rare movies that succeeds despite its predictable
story arc. This is, at a glance, basic stuff, a routine good guy versus bad guy showdown that
involves the ubiquitous hostages and demand for large sums of money, but Scott's direction,
Helgeland's script, and Washington's and Travolta's performances in particular turn an ordinary
movie into one that's borderline extraordinary. Sony's Blu-ray effort is, itself, excellent. Featuring
the expected near-reference quality video and audio presentations alongside a strong collection of
extras, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 comes highly recommended.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3: Other Editions

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The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 Blu-ray, News and Updates

For its third Black Friday lightning deal, Amazon is offering three Blu-ray movies at reduced prices: The Hurt Locker for $9.99 (71% off MSRP); Saving Private Ryan for $9.99 (80% off MSRP); and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 for $5 (80% off MSRP). These prices expire ...

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3' for November 3, day-and-date with the DVD. Note that this is the 2009 version of the thriller, directed by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta. The movie will be ...

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